Just one day earlier, Ryan told reporters he "absolutely" would want Reed on his team. The pair have history. Ryan was a longtime defensive coach in Baltimore, which included a four-season stint as the team's defensive coordinator before joining the Jets in 2009.

Reed would still be in Houston if he was close to the player he once was, but this remains a smart, low-risk move for New York. Reed is familiar with Ryan's defense and could find himself in a prominent role by the time the Jets travel to Baltimore next week to face Reed's former team.

And if you think the Jets don't take added pleasure in acquiring a player that Patriots coach Bill Belichick has openly adored in the past, you don't know this rivalry. Reed told reporters Thursday that the Patriots had been interested in signing him. The Jets won out.